Fields of Fuel

FUEL is not only superbly done, with not a break in holding my attention for its entire length, but timely, pertinent and moving as well. I found myself completely engaged in following the flow of identifying the myriad of breakdowns and conspiracies of perfidy, perpetrated on sectors of our country and our planet. FUEL spoke passionately about the damage done on several levels: individual, community, region, country, world. Personal tragedies correlated with tragedies already experienced by groups and populations, and predictably will extend into the future, affecting us in ways which are likely to exceed what's currently known. And those of us who are actually aware of what's occurring are battling the giants who are continuing in the direction they've been going all along, indisputably aware of the cost to people and the environment. But the remarkable aspect of the film is that in the face of all this you're left with an opening for action, a call to stand up and do something that will forward the healing and impact us all. Now that's the way to walk out of the theater. That's what has FUEL be a film that makes a difference.

At its recent Hollywood Premiere, the film "Fuel" brought the audience to its feet in the longest standing ovation of all its many ovations that it received at every film festival - including each of the 10 screenings at Sundance Film Festival.

This film shows the world what a small percentage of us have known for several years now: Biodiesel is available, works in any diesel vehicle, is made in America, and is better for the environment than petroleum fuels. It does not stop with biodiesel but instead, presents many sustainable energy solutions available right now for individual and planetary health, security and economic prosperity.

"Fuel" goes from Josh Tickell's time on a farm in Germany where he learned that diesel fuel can be made from vegetable and animal products, to his journey across America in the Veggie Van, to the widespread production of biodiesel from used fryer oil, to the present where new biodiesel is being made from algae and new food stocks and is available from ordinary pumps at filling stations.

The film answers the question on everyone's mind these days: Is biodiesel going to make food expensive and starve the poor? The answer is no. Biodiesel is made from oils, while the solids from the feed stock go on to be food for people and animals. The film does not suggest that biodiesel will supply all our food and energy needs. We learn the value of wind, solar, geothermal, and other clean, domestic energy sources in filling the missing pieces of the puzzle that will free us from our dependence on oil.

Fuel weaves a web of connection between US energy/petrol policy and the environmental and foreign policies that ensue from petrol dependence. Without being preachy, the narrator spins a yarn that takes him from the happy-go-lucky days of an Australian childhood to the US where he begins to mature in his views about energy and the most effective means to make a difference.

The film is stuffed with celebrities, the obligatory genuflection to a star-struck culture that can't imagine much if Cher, Willie Nelson, or Bono aren't hyping it. This aside, probably the most important aspect of the narrator's tale is how he realized that he wasn't going to get squat done if he didn't begin to work collectively. This is the most powerful message of his film. The last third of the move details all of the energy solutions afoot right now, which can be implemented with the right pressure on Congress. It's inspiring folks.

There only seemed to be one glaring error. This has to do with his calculus regarding the use of ethanol. I would suggest everyone read Alcohol Can Be a Gas for a more intelligent discussion on ethanol. The other bone to pick is the matter of environmental racism. Americans are likely more predisposed to any card but the infamous race card. The rebound effects for his own mother, however, demonstrate that good old saying by the big J himself, "That which you do to the Least of my brothers, that's what you do onto me."

EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE THIS FILM. Coming from the perspective of someone who knows very little U.S. energy consumption or the politics surrounding it, I found the film extremely accessible, clear, and captivating. It enlightened me on the big picture (which until seeing this film seemed overwhelming and unapproachable), gave me a sense of hope, and empowered me as the average citizen with simple things I can do to be a part of the solution. I was touched and inspired by FUEL and came away with a whole new outlook on the world and life itself!

Synopsis (from the FUEL website): Most Americans know we've got a problem: an addiction to oil that taxes the environment, entangles us in costly foreign policies, and threatens the nation's long-term stability. But few are informed or empowered enough to do much about it. Enter Josh Tickell, an expert young activist who, driven by his own emotionally charged motives, shuttles us on a revelatory, whirlwind journey to unravel this addiction — from its historical origins to political constructs that support it, to alternatives available now and the steps we can take to change things. Tickell tracks the rising domination of the petrochemical industry — from Rockefeller's strategy to halt ethanol use in Ford's first cars to the mysterious death of Rudolph Diesel at the height of his engine's popularization, to our government's choice to declare war after 9/11, rather than wean the country from fossil fuel. Never minimizing the complexities of ending oil dependence, Tickell uncovers a hopeful reality pointing toward a decentralized, sustainable energy infrastructure. Sweeping and exhilarating, Tickell's passionate film goes beyond great storytelling; it rings out like a bell that stirs consciousness and makes individual action suddenly seem consequential.

If one film this year has capacity to transform today's world to one where human rights are restored, it is "Fields of Fuel." As the film highlights, returning the power, both energy and political, to the common individual is what biodiesel and the father of diesel, Rudolph Diesel were all about.

One of the best things about bio-diesel is the next generation food-free biodiesel creatively and economically produced. Non-foods such as algae, desert grass and Camelina grown where no food grows are major parts of the new, "next generation," food-free biodiesel. Keeping biodiesel but not the old way of making it with precious food source is the key. Throwing the baby out with the bath water has never been a humane solution. It seems that some groups are intent on causing the average person to think the contrary - about both biodiesel and babies. That's why "Fields of Fuel" needs to be seen by most Americans; the sooner the better for humanity. The film leaves no question about what is morally right. Not only that, it inspires and motivates with its compassionate and solution-driven demonstrations.

Without seeing "Fields of Fuel," it seems too few Westerners, the "haves," realize the rich opportunities and the justified hope that the new generation of biodiesel offers to the world's poorest of the poor. Many of the poor, such as Australian Aborigines and Ni-Vanuatu islanders, both among Earth's oldest living cultures now living in Least Developing Conditions, could benefit enormously from biodiesel produced in their communities.

We hear people complain of high fuel prices, but most of these people still go and do. Present oil prices for the poorest Peoples means they do not go or do. For such Peoples already experiencing high levels of suffering due to unemployment and associated disease, too expensive or no oil often means no transportation for services to survive.

Locally produced biodiesel can help change this scenario of the poor and the hungry to one of hope and health. As a matter of fact, thanks to the leadership of "Fields of Fuel" producer and one man in the Least Developing island nation that followed him, Vanuatu, ni-Van buses run on coconut oil. The abundance of coconuts left to rot on the beaches there are now used for biodiesel. This generated employment and income to locals that had none, plus clean air to an overpopulated town - not to mention the streets' sweet scent similar to toasted coconut candy coming from the buses.

After one "Fields of Fuel" screening, I met a small group of bio-diesel advocates that learned from and then followed in the footsteps of "Fields of Fuel" director; after which they created their own path. They now travel the world to marginalized Least Developing condition communities. They are teaching Indigenous tribal villagers to produce biodiesel so their villages have: fuel for their village tractor so they can grow their food more efficiently; fuel for their community generator for desperate needs; fuel for their village school bus so their children can learn; and fuel for emergency trips to their far-off hospital to save a life. We in "developed nation" communities would now do well learning sustainable living from these villagers.

I've been privileged to view "Fields of Fuel" several times, appreciating it more each time. The theater has usually been understandably packed, and people were standing along the side walls. Roars of laughter, clapping and cheering DURING the show, wiping of heartfelt tears upon seeing the pain and suffering that we are complicit in committing when we fill our tanks with other than biodiesel ... all typically occur during this film's screenings. Standing ovation typically occurs after the show. These are well-deserved rewards of a special young man who experienced firsthand as a boy the suffering deliberately induced by Big Oil profiteers. He vowed to offer a better choice to all of society.

The strong, favorable, audience responses to "Fields of Fuel" and this films' capacity to transform our unjust world today to one more humane are due to that young man's courageous determination to make a difference. Over twelve years, he demonstrated that focused determination to help halt suffering from petrochemical related injuries in his mother's home state, Louisiana, our great nation, America and the world. Those years of dedication and hard work are reflected in this amazing work of theater art.

Perhaps the most favorable "Fields of Fuel" response of all is one that I've heard a few times after different screenings. Each time, it was a teacher speaking this to Joshua and the audience during the Q and A, in the theater following the screening:

"This film should be screened in EVERY school in the United States!" Indeed, our nation and the world will likely be much better places for all to live when school children, their parents and teachers face and learn the truth about oil, and learn the joys of making a positive difference locally, nationally and globally. Seeing "Fields of Fuel" is empowering. It leaves the viewer knowing that this better standard of living is possible for all of humanity, the rich and the poor. It is right there at our fingertips to be harnessed, not only through biodiesel, but also whichever alternative sustainable energy sources most appropriately match each individual's and community's unique needs and resources. This is all explored in gripping edutainment of "Fields of Fuel." Congratulations to the over one hundred people that worked and are still working tirelessly to improve our world through "Fields of Fuel," especially to that special young man, one of my two great sons, Joshua Dupre' Tickell.